Perpetual adoration lights the way

By Christina Galeone | CFP Correspondent

One in a series of occasional stories on what parishes are doing for the National Eucharistic Revival

Before the COVID-19 pandemic upended so many things around the world, St. Joseph Parish in Charlton offered eucharistic adoration in the church three days a week. The devotion gave parishioners a divinely unique experience. The church’s pastor, Father Robert A. Grattaroti compared it to someone gazing lovingly at a picture of her parents, but instead of her parents, it’s Jesus, and it’s not just a picture, it’s really him.
“Our intention is to make Lord Jesus available,” Father Grattaroti said. He added, “All the words in the world could never, ever, ever adequately speak about adoration.”
It initially seemed like the pandemic restrictions would halt the parishioners’ practice of praying before the Blessed Sacrament. But instead of restricting the devotion to the scant number of people who were allowed inside the church during the mandatory church closures in 2020, the parish did something remarkable. It began its current practice of having perpetual eucharistic adoration that’s available to everyone, day or night, from a second-floor window that can be clearly seen from the church parking lot.
    Father Grattaroti revealed that providing perpetual adoration in this way wasn’t his original idea. He had heard about another parish starting the practice and immediately embraced it as a way to keep the devotion going at St. Joseph’s. The parishioners quickly embraced it as well.    “There’s always somebody parked in front of the window where the Blessed Sacrament is located,” Father Grattaroti marveled, noting how delighted he is. He later added, “I’ve seen them there as late as midnight. People really find it very beneficial.”
The pastor further noted that the Blessed Sacrament, secured in a monstrance, is housed in a small meeting room – which is now specifically dedicated to adoration – that overlooks the parking lot. He, Father Charles F.  Monroe, the parish’s senior priest, and Deacons William S. Shea and W. Steve Miller all tend to and protect the Blessed Sacrament. And parishioners have been reverent.     
The glory that awaits people in heaven is one thing that Father Grattaroti believes the Blessed Sacrament reminds us of. He also said that it allows people to experience “God’s love in a very, very personal way – as personal as it can be on this earth.” He later elaborated, “The Eucharist is par excellence the mystery of life and love … available to us because of God’s love.”
But Father Grattaroti’s parishioners and the community aren’t the only ones who are enriched by perpetual adoration. The pastor, who sometimes prays the rosary before the Blessed Sacrament, continues to grow in appreciation and love for the devotion.
“Like Jesus, we have to grow in age and wisdom,” he commented. “I think the more I learned … the more exciting it became.”
Julia McDonough is one of the parishioners who appreciates the unique opportunity to worship before the Blessed Sacrament.
“Although I prefer adoration in the church, having Our Lord available outside has been a blessing, particularly during the early days of the pandemic,” she said. “At night, He is a beacon of hope and light.”    
Even though Father Grattaroti acknowledged that the parish may eventually return to having a more traditional form of adoration three days a week, he has specific hopes for the future.
“My hope is that people will always have respect and adoration for Jesus’ presence in the Blessed Sacrament,” he shared. He added, “We do that knowing that God loves us and wants us to love him back … and this is a great way of doing that, among many others.”